COLUMBUS -- Legal counsel representing Gov. John Kasich, several state agencies and gaming companies are hoping to convince a central Ohio judge to toss a lawsuit filed by opponents of video lottery terminals and expanded casino-style gambling.

The two sides each offered about 30 minutes of oral arguments Thursday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on the potential dismissal and other motions filed against the American Policy Roundtable, the conservative group that wants to block state-run slots at horse tracks and the redefining of casino profits considered for state taxation purposes, among other issues.

"By no means do we think that slot machines should be allowed at the racetracks under the auspice of the lottery commission," said Rob Walgate Jr., vice president of the American Policy Roundtable. "If people want that to happen, then they need to go through the constitutional process."

Gaming interests want a resolution to the lawsuit quickly so they can move forward with plans to relocate horse tracks and the planned openings of the state's four new casinos.

"It's important for our clients to have finality and certainty on the issues in this case," said Matthew Fornshell, representing subsidiaries of Penn National Gaming. "The interveners represent virtually all of the non-lottery and charitable gaming community in the state of Ohio. They've spent hundreds of millions of dollars and employed thousands of people in preparation to begin (casino) operations in May ... They need to have certainty of the regulations that they will be subjected to."

The case comes in the midst of continuing actions by state officials to accommodate the opening of the state's new casinos and planned moves by two horse tracks.

Kasich and casino owners last year reached an agreement on a number of issues related to gambling in the state, including allowing video slots at horse tracks.

Lawmakers subsequently OK'd legislation allowing the relocation of tracks, and Kasich and the state lottery and horse racing commissions have signed off on emergency rules placing VLTs on a fast track.

Last month, the governor's office and Penn National announced an agreement further solidifying the company's planned relocation of horse tracks, calling for Penn's Beulah Park, located near Columbus, to relocate to Austintown in Mahoning County and Raceway Park, near Toledo, to move to Dayton.

Penn intends to spend about $200 million on the relocation projects, plus $100 million in licensing fees and an additional $75 million relocation fee, per track.

The state racing commission still has to sign off on the agreement. Penn spokesman Bob Tenenbaum said Thursday the company would not submit its application to move the two tracks until the provisions are finalized.

The American Policy Roundtable said the related policy decisions by state officials are unconstitutional because voters have not agreed to allow VLTs at racetracks. The group says Kasich and lawmakers exceeded their authority in reaching agreement with gaming companies and passing legislation, including changing how the state's commercial activity tax would apply to casinos.

"What was designed in 1973 (in the constitutional amendment creating the state lottery) was not slot machines at racetracks," Walgate said, adding later, concerning agreements to allow video slots at racetracks, "It came about because of a memorandum of understanding. It came about because of a backroom deal. It came about because what was said was, we will drop the commercial activities tax and give you this if you give us X amount of dollars."

Aaron Epstein, representing the governor, countered that the Roundtable and other plaintiffs in the case do not have legal standing to bring suit.

Plaintiffs do not explain how they will be "specifically affected by the VLTs," Epstein said. "Moreover, there's no explanation how this court can possibly fashion a meaningful remedy in a state that already will have four casinos, no matter how this court rules on the VLTs, and those casinos will have table games and they will have slot machines ... We still have state lotteries. We still have the Internet gaming."

He added, "They're concerned about gambling, and there's a lot of money involved. That's not sufficient to create a public action case."

Susan Choe, representing the state's casino and lottery commissions, added video lottery terminals would operate like other lottery games and are allowed under the state constitution.

"... Video lottery terminal games are the lottery," she said. "They will be conducted by the Ohio Lottery Commission, (and) the entire net proceeds will support education programs in Ohio."